Rating: 
Summary: Kiki's on DVD but with problems...
Review: One of Hayao Miyazaki's great animes has now been released on this new Disney 2-disc set. The 1:85 anamorphic widescreen picture is generally very good and the new 5.1 Dolby Digital soundtrack is full of life.For those of us who have waited years for this film to be available on DVD the wait is over. However, a couple of problems blemish what could have been a very nice event. First and foremost, the picture runs slightly (about a 1/2 second) out-of-sync behind the sound. Many won't notice it or will blame the effect on poor dubbing. But, those (like me) who have closely watched this film on VHS will see that a sync problem does exist (at least) on Disney's initial run of Kiki's Deliver Service on DVD. Because, this film (like the other Miyazaki offerings) was carefully and successfully dubbed to avoid the dreaded lip-flap effect. Unfortunately, the problem is apparently on all three language tracks as well. Another less important (but still annoying) defect is found in the Japanese trailers that accompany this film. Most of them are mis-flagged in anamorphic and the result makes them look like they're squished in Cinemascope, when they should just be 1:85 letterboxed widescreen. They can be manually corrected, but shouldn't have to be. I do hope Disney finds it in their hearts to reissue Kiki with a fixed soundtrack in the near future as this true gem should be seen as good as it can be. At least, Miyazaki's other two recently released animes (Spirited Away and Castle in the Sky) look and sound right. Disney has done a good job of offering both English and Japanese versions in not only sound but picture as well. So, the Japanese versions contain their original titles and music tracks. Very nice to see this "Master's" work in R1 indeed...
Rating: 
Summary: Wonderful movie, slightly stained by Disney
Review: First off, don't let anything I say after this discourage you from buying this movie. We own it on VHS, and now, DVD. It's a very fun movie - it proves that you can do a great story that kids (and adults) will love, without following "the formula" and having paper-thin, 2-dimensional bad guys.
However, apparently Disney doesn't think people will "get it" unless spoonfed; even after pushing the Menu button to skip the previews they try to ram down your throat, and hitting "Play Movie", they have a Pixar director come on and tell you what the movie is going to be about, and that "you're going to love it." Gee, thanks. I guess us amer-cuns must be too dum to figgur it out for ourselves.
Those of us with DVD recorders will certainly want to create "movie only" discs for our kids so they don't have to endure even more dumbing down at the hands of Disney.
Disney, if you're listening, in the future if you feel you must explain the movie to the audience, do it off the main menu, not at the beginning of the movie.
Despite all this, expecially if you have kids, PLEASE buy this movie, you won't regret it.
Rating:
Summary: Better than I remember!
Review: Here is yet another of master film maker Hayao Miyazaki's films finally released in the U.S. by Disney. I had a chance to see this many years ago after the success of My Neighbor Totoro allowed this film to get the quality Disney dub treatment as well. For some reason, this film which actually made it into a few theatres disappeared into obscurity. The success of Spirited Away prompted Disney to get off their butts and let the world see another of Miyazaki's magnificent films. When I first saw this film, it didn't leave the same impression on me as any of Miyazaki's other films did. Sure, I felt it was good, but I think I found it too girlish for my taste. Of course, I was younger then (probably still in high school), and seeing it now allows me to have a better appreciation for the film. In all honesty, I do still expect this film to appeal much more to women and girls; it is a coming of age story about a young girl after all. However, I wouldn't compare it to a "chick flick". I was pleasantly surprised to discover I liked this film more than I remembered. Kirsten Dunst (who was much younger when this film was originally dubbed) perfectly portrays Kiki, the films main character, and Phil Hartman brings a lot of charm and personality to the film as Kiki's cat. This film has all the magic you'd come to expect from Miyazaki. For guys, I recommend checking out Princess Mononoke, Castle in the Sky, and Spirited Away first as you will probably like them more than this film. Girls, I'd recommend Kiki's Delivery Service, My Neighbor Totoro, and Spirited Away before seeing the rest. I recommend anyone see all of Miyazaki's films, but everyone's gonna have favorites. Some of his films appeal more one gender than another, but they are all great films that everyone should enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: The first of Hayao Mayazaki's films I fell for...
Review: years before I even knew what anime was.
I fell in love with it then and I have fallen in love with it all over again. As I have gotten older sense I originally saw it, and lost my copy a few years ago, I like the subtitled version a lot more now. I was 12 when I originally saw it (6 years ago), its still as good as ever though. And even though I realize how much these studio's edit out and such, now that I am a anime fan myself and have compared many TV series and movies (this or course included), I still love the english version because I fell in love with it first so I can't really [take] it out of my heart. Note though for people that are not aware of how much they edit, the DVD accually has 2 seperate films on it, because they cut scenes and such. The Original uncut Japanese version with English Subtitles or not (choice), and the English version. They have done a great job with the DVD!
The dvds rule!
It has the neatest extra on disk 2 (this extra is fills the whole disk 2),
*DVD EXTRA SPOILER*
for a animated film I've ever seen! You can watch the whole lay out of the movie as its being made with its original concept drawings and sketches with the movie's voices playing in the back round, in English or Japanese! ^_^ And for a film like this is really something to watch, of course it takes the whole length of the movie to go through but thats what fast forwarding to your fav parts are for or speeding it up to get a little glimpse of everything. Over all 10 out 10 for this masterpiece of storytelling, and a great DVD adoption! The film makes you soar with Kiki, and DVD makes it even better! ^__^ Sinceres to all I hope I've helped, and for future reference see all of Hayao Mayazaki's films but be warned not all are for kids, Princess Mononoke (3rd highest grossing film in Japanese history) is not a kids movie.
Film List: Princess Monononke, Castle in the Sky, Spirited Away, and My Neighbor Totoro.
Petition for his other masterpieces to be released in the USA Nausicaa, Whisper of the Heart, and Only Yesterday are only 3 of the other wonderful films that have yet to be released! You can get them imported though subtitled from Hong Kong. They do a good job to subtitling!
Rating:
Summary: Get this movie
Review: I don't write reviews normally. My son wanted this movie. I resisted, thinking it would be stupid.
I was taken away by the story and animation. I can not say enough good things about this movie. Enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: Miyazaki's greatest film!
Review: I'm probably in the minority when I say this, but I think that Kiki's Delivery Service is the greatest of Miyazaki's films. I haven't seen Porco Rosso yet, but I've seen all of his other films. They are ALL great, mind you, but this, in my opinion is the best of them. I'm not a huge fan of anime, but Miyazaki is truly a wonderful director. I've watched the DVD twice already, in both American and Japanese, and they are both great. The dubbing was done wonderfully, with very talented actors and actresses. And although some of the music and sound is changed, none of the movie was cut or added onto as another reviewer claimed (considering that when Disney got the rights to Ghibli films part of their contract was that they couldn't add or delete any scenes.) Either language you watch it in, it's wonderful. It's a very fun movie with great animation and a great story. There's no violence, and it's a great movie for all ages. I'm 23, and I have watched it over five times, and my nephews and nieces are between the ages of 3 and 8 and they all really enjoyed it. Highly recommended, even if you don't enjoy anime.
Rating: 
Summary: BORING, but nice
Review: Kiki's Delivery Service has some nice and smooth animation, but other than the eye candy, this anime is sorely lacking in story and imagination. I was hoping and expecting a lot more from this movie. The most imaginative thing is a girl that flies on a broom, a talking cat, and a kid riding a bike with a propeller. That's it. No creatures, no far-out worlds, and most glaringly, NO ACTION. I can't believe this movie came from the same mind that created 'Spirited Away'. 'SA' was most everything this is not: intriging, imaginative, exciting. I'm amazed at how many 5-star reviews Kiki's Delivery Service has received - it is not deserving of 5 stars at all. It is boring, and ultimately, disappointing. I hope 'Castle in the Sky' and 'Princess Mononoke' are infinitely better than this let-down.
Rating:
Summary: Great movie!
Review: Before I saw this, I thought ALL anime was {lousy}. I really am starting to like it! This movie has a great story with great (and famous) voice actors. I was thrilled to read the book ... after I saw this wonderful movie. GREAT for people off all ages!!
Rating:
Summary: BRILLIANT - BUT NOT IN ENGLISH
Review: Since no one has reviewed the DVD yet, I'll chime in and say that this film has instantly become one of my favorite animated films of all time. Hayao Mayazaki is the real deal - everything about this film shows how bankrupt Disney and other animated films have become. And the real proof of it is in the Disney English version - everything is made crass and obvious (the voice talent is fine - it's the adaptation that's the problem), every sequence where Mayazaki has let silence be as beautiful as his animation has been rescored by Paul Chihara (who should know better), they've added an insipid pop song and they've made cuts in the film. All the scenes where they've Americanized the onscreen text look like like tenth generation dupes. Phil Hartman was a very funny man, but what they've done to the cat in the American version is reprehensible - it's just typical Disney and not anything to do with Mayazaki. So, the trick is, watch the film in Japanese with English subtitles - you will be moved to tears by the end of it, you will be enthralled with its subtleties and you will be in awe of its gorgeous imagery. Then watch the Disney version and you will know exactly what I'm talking about. Anyone who has only seen the American version, doesn't have a clue about the wonders of this simple, heartfelt and wonderful film. Buy it, watch it, but first in Japanese. Trust me on this.
Rating:
Summary: A great movie
Review: I rented this with some hesitation and was happily proved wrong. It's a great movie, nothing scary, and very enjoyable for parents as well. The whole movie just has a great feeling about it-and you can't beat the late Phil Hartman as GiGi, Kiki's pet cat. Far and beyond most childrens' entertainment that is currently available.
| 
